Top 5 Salisbury Car Tours: Your Guide to the most Scenic Routes

Thinking about checking out Salisbury by car? Salisbury, this really amazing city in Wiltshire, is apparently a superb base for some genuinely cracking driving tours. It has that mix of historic sites and gorgeous countryside so it’s rather brilliant. So, that being the case, whether you’re seriously into ancient history, more like someone who enjoys a very lovely view, or even someone that simply wants that leisurely day trip, I mean, Salisbury is probably going to have something just for you. I thought, maybe you’d like me to walk you through what I reckon are the five best car tours starting from Salisbury, each one offering, like, something totally different. These are actually road trips which are going to make sure you, kind of, see the best of the south of England. So, get those engines revving, and let’s have a look.

1. The Stonehenge and Avebury Circle Tour

Okay, this one is, like, properly for the history buffs! It’s almost essential, so it’s almost like you need to do this! The tour hits two like super, duper major prehistoric sites, that, very, very possibly, give you chills. So, starting in Salisbury, point your, like your, motor towards Stonehenge, that is actually located just about 20 minutes away. I’m pretty sure, that you’ve seen it on TV but seeing those mighty stones is going to blow you away; it’s really something else when you, like, see it right there. Book your spot in advance. So, it’s almost, like, a rule if you want to, very, very possibly, avoid very huge queues especially during tourist season. Allow, let’s say, maybe, two to three hours to have a nice, unhurried look around. After that, is that, you fancy driving toward Avebury? Basically, this place is, in some respects, about an hour’s drive further north and is often rather ignored because of Stonehenge, but that would be such a mistake.

You’re not going to believe this. Avebury’s stone circle, it actually dwarfs Stonehenge, and you can, too it’s almost, walk right among the stones which definitely feels pretty magical, honestly! It’s, you know, a less crowded, much more intimate sort of experience. Nearby, the village has quaint little shops and tea rooms where you, literally, can grab something nice to eat or drink to perk yourself up before driving on back to Salisbury. So, this part of your journey is more or less just about perfect for some gorgeous Wiltshire scenery, trust me. Read our full review: Stonehenge & Avebury Circle Tour Full Review and Details and see Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Stonehenge and Avebury Tour)

2. The New Forest National Park Scenic Route

Are you like someone that actually likes nature? As a matter of fact, the New Forest is one place to be then, definitely! So, this national park, a little south-east of Salisbury, tends to be really old – honestly William the Conqueror turned it into a royal hunting forest in, roughly, about 1079. That means it has, more or less, square miles of heathland, ancient woodland, and rivers just perfect if you like wandering about a bit. Starting off in Salisbury, you are going to motor along to the New Forest; it will be about half an hour driving and when you do get there, just cruise and keep a sharp eye out for all of the wild ponies, the deer and very rarely even a pig! They’re normally just roaming free pretty much everywhere, mostly on the roads as well, so do be careful.

The little places like Lyndhurst (sort of, known as, the capital of the New Forest) and Brockenhurst provide really lovely places to park the motor and do a bit of shopping, or you could maybe go for that lovely walk, too it’s almost, grab lunch in one of those village pubs. Another idea: Bolderwood is apparently the location of the Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary where is that, you might well spot red deer, certainly. Plus, this, arguably, is a super photographic area too! Seriously think about factoring in extra time, because apparently, there are tons of hiking trails if you, too it’s almost, fancy a longer trek in that great outdoors. So, you’ll likely want to see what it’s like! Read our full review: New Forest National Park Scenic Route Full Review and Details and See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (New Forest National Park Tour)

3. The Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Beauty (AONB)

Need a little bit of gorgeousness? That’s, that, basically, the thing you are searching? Very much in the area around Salisbury tends to be Cranborne Chase that, as a matter of fact, is more or less a officially designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Anyway, it does rather go across parts of Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire. And apparently, this route is all about tranquil villages, views which go for miles, plus really fantastic country lanes. As you, naturally, take your way out of Salisbury, is that, direct yourself toward the town of Cranborne and after this you simply explore. So, just driving through roads here you may find gems; take pauses at places such as Shaftesbury (apparently, Gold Hill is absolutely iconic!) and explore too it’s almost, that stunning landscape a little more!

So, there’s loads of history kicking around too – think about visiting old Iron Age forts like those ones at Badbury Rings or Hod Hill! For, instance, Larmer Tree Gardens, that really unusual Victorian pleasure ground, basically gives you a very, very pleasant spot in that you’ll very, very possibly be able to, have lunch in that pretty setting. Because, let me tell you, these backroads will take a little bit longer due to being narrower. But the amazing beauty makes this completely worth it. Seriously! Read our full review: Cranborne Chase AONB Tour Full Review and Details and See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Cranborne Chase AONB Scenic Tour)

4. The Salisbury to Longleat Safari Park Adventure

Now that might excite any families with kids…or honestly adults who still secretly want to, more or less, see lions up close! From Salisbury, take that A36 to get you right across Longleat which, in some respects, will be only half an hour or thereabouts. I thought, that you might want to aim to arrive kind of, just as it opens to dodge those lines that, obviously, could develop by mid-morning. When, literally, there, very, very possibly, you can dive in and do safari. Very possibly see such animals, is that, you only normally catch on a wildlife television programme. It’s completely mind-blowing to, actually, have giraffes walking literally by your vehicle!

It may also happen that Longleat also is where, as a matter of fact, one might locate that, genuinely awesome, stately home where the Marquess of Bath does stay, really! After having finished staring in total amazement with lions or tiger what have you. Just take a stroll around those lavish gardens. The maze is, kind of, entertaining (very possibly you may want to give you that extra bit time just in case if we get lost there. Yeah, I understand they can sometimes cause issue; do allow several hours, since I understand that, there truly is a heap to check out in the area so this will definitely turn that tour into all-day outing rather easy to do. That stated: great fun! Read our full review: Salisbury to Longleat Safari Park Full Review and Details and See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Longleat Safari Adventure)

5. South Coast Meander: Salisbury to the Jurassic Coast

How, apparently, about some ocean views and dramatic scenery. Right, what to do here? That south coastline of England (that also houses all bits around Jurassic Coast) certainly makes for an fantastic little escape, honestly! And of, literally, course what that could lead to are rather glorious experiences! Jump in the vehicle, get ready for about a trip around maybe an hour to get the region which sits as close as maybe Dorset. Start with iconic Lulworth Cove and visit Durdle Door as this can represent like genuinely good photograph opportunities which no-one that enjoys landscape photographs must ignore – definitely make certain those phone or that fancy camera can capture a very gorgeous set!

Driving eastward tends to be where, arguably, you stumble onto little towns, with nice little bits – I do believe it depends which way your inclination wants you to do though – perhaps consider that swing over Corfe Castle, that is just as impressive in real life just as those images seem show across such platforms, such those seen on the socials or that place that gets shown in advertising formats, so just picture what what you’ll see. For instance, if someone wants an lunch pause you probably wouldn’t fail grabbing what you seek to do just like in Swanage, such a classic beach that shows how coastal towns provide charm with great ease, honestly and with limited attempts just do this. Because roads on side may be less travelled be aware; still rewards what comes around from it, and it will worth while so that tour that combines just ocean scene and then various scenic towns is definitely, absolutely, some what what you’d ask!

Read our full review: Salisbury to Jurassic Coast Full Review and Details and See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Jurassic Coast Road Trip)